Fan hat apparatus

ABSTRACT

Ribs are stacked and are joined pivotally at inner ends. A flexible connector sequentially joins outer ends, permitting the ribs to be spread as radii in a complete circle. Releaseable fasteners connect outer sections of upper and lower ribs to complete a circular form. Ribs are bent downward to form top and sides of a crown and are bent outward to form a brim. A sheet covers outer portions of the ribs forming a brim. In a sport cap configuration, upper and lower ribs are shortened so that the brim directionally extends from a crown as a beak.

United States Patent [1 1 Lim 1451 Sept. 30, 1975 1 FAN HAT APPARATUS Chai-Kil Lim, PO. Box 4305. Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 [22] Filed: Aug. 22, 1974 [211 App]. No.: 499,760

[76] Inventor:

[52] US. Cl 2/175; 2/177 [51] Int. Cl. A428 l/20 [58] Field of Search 2/175, 177, 195. 198, 171,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 640.436 l/l900 Anderson 2/192 X 11/1938 Ristcll et a1.. 2/175 2200,7213 5/1940 Vollmer 2/177 2.765.472 10/1956 Schoen-Wolski 2/195 Primary E.\aminerwerner H. Schroeder Assistant E.\aminerPeter Nerbun Attorney Agent, or Firm-James C Wray 5 7 ABSTRACT Ribs are stacked and are joined pivotally at inner ends. A flexible connector sequentially joins outer ends, permitting the ribs to be spread as radii in a complete circle. Releaseable fasteners connect outer sections of upper and lower ribs to complete a circular form. Ribs are bent downward to form top and sides of a crown and are bent outward to form a brim. A sheet covers outer portions of the ribs forming a brim. In a sport cap configuration, upper and lower ribs are shortened so that the brim directionally extends from a crown as a beak.

9 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Sept. 30,1975 Sheet 1 of 2 3,908,199

US. Patent Sept. 30,1975 Sheet 2 of2 3,908,199

FAN HAT APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Folding hand fans are well known. The fans are formed of flat ribs joined together centrally with a fabric covering outer portions of the ribs. When the fan is spread. a flat sector is formed which is useful for holding in a hand and moving back and forth to propel air currents toward the face. The sector is formed with up to 180 of arc. Usually the folding fans are highly decorative. Use of the fans has been limited to propelling air and to decorations. Wide use of the highly collapsible nature of the fans has not been made.

SUMMARY .OF THE INVENTION The present invention creates from a hand fan a unique readily collapsible hat. Ribs are joined pivotally at central ends and are mounted in a stack. A connector sequentially connects ribs at positions spaced from inner ends of the ribs to limit segmental extension of the ribs to a circular configuration with juxtaposed upper and lower ends. Complementary releaseable connectors at the upper and lower ribs connect those ribs so that thehat is held in a circular configuration. A flexible sheet is sequentially joined to outer portions of the ribs to form a covering of the hat. The covering terminates at the inner edge of a brim portion in a preferrcd embodiment of the invention, leaving an inner crown portion uncovered. Ribs are formed as flat slats in a preferred embodiment of the invention so that the inner portions of the flat slats are laterally close, substantially closing gaps in a crown portion and substantially covering a head of a wearer.

Inner portions of the ribs-form a crown portion of the hat. and outer portions of the ribs form a brim portion. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the ribs are bent downwardly to form a top between the first bends and the central ends. Second outward bends of the rims form'sides of the crown portion between the first and second bends. Sections of the ribs beyond the second bends form the brim portions of the ribs.

The connective member comprises the sheet covering of the hat in one embodiment of the invention. In a preferred embodiment, the connective member which is a plain or decorative binding is connected to outer ends of the ribs.

A covering comprises aflexible material which is connected to the ribs by bonding or stitching. The covering material may be any suitable material and when it is a plastic material. the covering may be formed integral with the ribs. The covering covers the desired crown or rim portion of the hat. In the preferred embodiment, the covering is fastened to the brim, and the crown portions of the rims are uncovered.

The rims are formed in the desired shape and size. Preferably, all of the crown portions of the rims have similar shapes. The side sections of the crown portions may be graduated in size so that an even rim is formed around the base of the crown portion. Lengths of ribs are varied to suit the desired shape of the brim. In one embodiment ribs are of substantially equal size, forming a circular brim extending around the hat. In another. sport. embodiment, rims extend in one direction from a crown so that the brim forms a beak and so that the hat thereby forms a cap.

Releaseable fasteners are made in a suitable form. Zippers may be employed. Hooks and loops are satisfactory. Micro hook and hook fasteners of a type known as Velcro fasteners are well suited to the invention. Snap-type fasteners are used in a preferred embodiment to give positive locking of the brim edges.

More than one row of fasteners is preferred to provide adjustability. More than one upper rib may be provided with fasteners and more than one lower rib may be provided with complementary fasteners. Preferably, the uppermost rib is provided with two downward engaging fasteners, and the lowermost rib is provided with upward engaging fasteners. One or more ribs adjacent the lowermost ribs are provided with similar upward engaging fasteners. The downward engaging fasteners of the uppermost rib engage the fasteners on a lower rib. The end lower rib or inner lower ribs are selected to vary the circumference of the brim and the crown to a convenient size.

Angles between the top and sides of the crown and between the crown and the brim may vary to meet the desired shape of the hat. Angles ranging between and 145 are satisfactory; angles between 90 and are preferred. I

One object of the invention is the provision of a folding fan with bent ribs.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a folding hand fan with downward and outward bent ribs.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a folding hand fan as described having a flexible sheet connected to the ribs outward of the bends. 1

Another object of the invention is the provision of fan hat apparatus comprising a plurality of flat bent ribs, the ribs having first central ends and having second outer ends, the ribs being stacked in face to face relationship with upper and lower ribs and intermediate ribs, a retainer connected to the first central ends of the ribs for joining the ribs in pivotal connection whereby the ribs are connected in stacked relationship and are sequentially turned in radii relationship about the retainer, flexible elongated connective means sequentially connected to the ribs at positions spaced from inner ends of the ribs for controlling circumferential spacing of the ribs, the connective means-having a length sufficient for permitting juxtaposing of outer ends of an upper rib and a lower rib, releaseable fastener means connected to an upper surface of a lower rib and to a lower surface of an upper rib for joining and holding the upper and lower ribs juxtaposed, whereby the remaining ribs are spread in radii relationship and for releasing the upper and lower ribs whereby the ribs may be stacked for collapsing the fan hat apparatus.

The invention has as an object the provision of fan hat apparatus comprising sheet means sequentially connected to ribs for forming a hat. Another object of the invention is the provision of fan hat apparatus wherein inner portions of the ribs form a crown portion of a hat and outer portions of the ribs form a brim portion of the hat.

Another object of the invention is the provision of fan hat apparatus as described wherein the sheet means is connected to outer portions of the ribs, thereby forming a brim of the hat.

Another object of the invention is the provision of fan hat apparatus wherein inner portions of ribs have medial bends for forming top sections of the crown portion and side sections of the crown portion.

Another object of the invention is the provision of fan hat apparatus wherein ribs have bends between inner and outer portions, thereby separating crown portions from the brim portions.

The invention has as another object the provision of fan hat apparatus wherein centrally pivoted ribs are of equal length, whereby a brim portion is circular.

A further object of the invention is the provision of fan hat apparatus wherein ribs are of unequal length, whereby a brim portion directionally extends from a crown portion.

Theseand other further objects and features of the invention are apparent in the disclosure, which includes the foregoing and ongoing specification with the claims, and which includes the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a closed fan hat.

FIG. 2 is a view of a partially open fan of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view of the preferred hat of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a view of a hat of the present invention having larger angle bends in the ribs.

FIG. 5 is a view of a sport embodiment of the hat of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view of the fan formed with the sport embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a view of the sport cap embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to FIG. 1, a fan hat is generally referred to by the numeral 1. In FIG. 1 the fan hat is collapsed or folded. The fan hat 1 comprises a series of ribs 2 stacked in face to face relationship. Inner ends 4 of the ribs 2 are joined by a retainer 6, which permits the ribs to swivel or fan out. Curves 8 in ribs 2 divide the inner portions of the ribs into top and side wall sections of the crown. Curves 10 integrally connect portions of the ribs which form the crown and the brim. The flat outer portions 12 of the ribs terminate in outer ends 14. A flexible sheet 16 extends from the rib outer ends 14 to an inner edge 18 of the sheet adjacent bends 10. A connective means 20, which is a binding of decorative material, joins the outer ends 14 of the ribs and prevents separation of the outer ends beyond predetermined amounts. Female snaps 22 and 24 are provided in upper ribs to engage complementary snaps in lower ribs when the fan is circularly spread into a hat.

As shown in FIG. 2, fan hat 1 when partly spread operates as a fan. Male snaps 26 and 28 in a lower rib provide connection of that rib to an upper rib when the apparatus is spread into a hat. Another row of snaps 30 and 32 is provided in another lower rib to provide adjustability in size of the brim and crown portion.

In FIG. 3 the fan hat 1 is shown in assembled view with snaps 22 and 24 joined to snaps 26 and 28, which are hidden from view. Fan hat 1 forms a crown portion 33 and a brim portion 34.

A second embodiment 35 of a fan hat is shown in FIG. 4. Ribs 36 have an upper downward curve 38 and a lower curve 40 which each reorient the ribs about 120. Softer lines in the crown and brim are thus formed than are formed with the embodiment shown in FIG. 3. The retainer 6 and the covering 16 are similar to those used in the FIG. 3 embodiment.

A sport modification 42 0f the invention is shown in FIG. 5. Upper and lower ribs 44 are shortened. Intermediate ribs 46 have gradually increasing length, and central ribs 48 have the greatest length. Curves 52 near centers of the ribs separate the ribs into crown portions and brim portions. Curves 50 separate inner portions of the ribs into top and side wall sections of the crown. Ends 54 of upper and lower ribs 44 terminate near the lower curves 52 and near the crown. Ends 56 of intermediate ribs 46 are slightly outward from the crown. Ends 58 of central ribs 48 are positioned farthest from the crown, producing a beak-like sport hat brim. Fabric sheet 60 covers the portions of ribs extending from the crown. The inner edge 62 of cover 60 is positioned near the lower curves 52. A binder connective element 64 connects outer ends of the ribs.

FIG. 6 shows the partially expanded fan form of the FIG 5 embodiment. Snaps 66, 68 and 70, which hold the hat form assembled, are apparent in FIG. 6.

The sport hat of the FIG. 5 embodiment is shown spread and fastened in FIG. 7. Crown 72 of the hat is formed of adjacent flat ribs and is well vented. The eye shielding beak 74 has a covering, and the back 76 of the hat is joined by fasteners in the desired size.

While the invention has been described in part by reference to specific embodiments it will be obvious that modifications and variations can be constructed without departing from the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. Fan hat apparatus comprising:

a plurality of flat bent ribs, the ribs having first central ends and having second outer ends, the ribs being stacked in face to face relationship with upper and lower ribs and intermediate ribs,

a retainer connected to the first central ends of the ribs for joining the ribs in pivotal connection whereby the ribs are connected in stacked relationship and are sequentially turned in radii relationship about the retainer,

flexible elongated binding means sequentially connected to the ribs at said second outer ends for limiting circumferential spacing of the ribs, the connective means having a length sufficient for permitting overlapping of outer ends of an upper rib and a lower rib, flexible sheet means covering an area near the second outer ends and extending toward the first central ends and releaseable fastener means connected to an upper surface of a lower rib and to a lower surface of an upper rib for joining and holding the upper and lower ribs juxtaposed, whereby the remaining ribs are spaced in radii relationship and for releasing the upper and lower ribs whereby the ribs may be stacked for collapsing the fan hat apparatus.

2. The fan hat apparatus of claim 1 wherein closely juxtaposed inner portions of the ribs form a crown portion of a hat and outer portions of the ribs form a brim portion of the hat.

3. The fan hat apparatus of claim 2 wherein sheet means is connected to outer portions of the ribs, thereby forming a brim of the hat.

4. The fan hat apparatus of claim 2 wherein the closely juxtaposed inner portions of the ribs have first medial bends for forming top sections of the crown portion and side sections of the crown portion.

site the first and second ribs as a beak.

8. The fan hat apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fastener means are female snap fasteners pointing downward from the upper rib and male snap fasteners pointing upward from the lower rib.

9. The fan hat apparatus of claim 8, wherein the additional upward directed male snap fasteners are mounted on ribs adjacent to the lower ribs for adjustment of hat size. 

1. Fan hat apparatus comprising: a plurality of flat bent ribs, the ribs having first central ends and having second outer ends, the ribs being stacked in face to face relationship with upper and lower ribs and intermediate ribs, a retainer connected to the first central ends of the ribs for joining the ribs in pivotal connection whereby the ribs are connected in stacked relationship and are sequentially turned in radii relationship about the retainer, flexible elongated binding means sequentially connected to the ribs at said second outer ends for limiting circumferential spacing of the ribs, the connective means having a length sufficient for permitting overlapping of outer ends of an upper rib and a lower rib, flexible sheet means covering an area near the second outer ends and extending toward the first central ends and releaseable fastener means connected to an upper surface of a lower rib and to a lower surface of an upper rib for joining and holding the upper and lower ribs juxtaposed, whereby the remaining ribs are spaced in radii relationship and for releasing the upper and lower ribs whereby the ribs may be stacked for collapsing the fan hat apparatus.
 2. The fan hat apparatus of claim 1 wherein closely juxtaposed inner portions of the ribs form a crown portion of a hat and outer portions of the ribs form a brim portion of the hat.
 3. The fan hat apparatus of claim 2 wherein sheet means is connected to outer portions of the ribs, thereby forming a brim of the hat.
 4. The fan hat apparatus of claim 2 wherein the closely juxtaposed inner portions of the ribs have first medial bends for forming top sections of the crown portion and side sections of the crown portion.
 5. The fan hat apparatus of claim 1 wherein the ribs have second bends between the inner and outer portions, thereby separating the crown portion from the brim portion.
 6. The fan hat apparatus of claim 2 wherein the ribs are of unequal length, whereby the brim portion directionally extends from the crown portion.
 7. The fan hat apparatus of claim 1 wherein the upper and lower ribs are relatively short and wherein central ribs are relatively long, wherein the brim extends opposite the first and second ribs as a beak.
 8. The fan hat apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fastener means are female snap fasteners pointing downward from the upper rib and male snap fasteners pointing upward from the lower rib.
 9. The fan hat apparatus of claim 8, wherein the additional upward directed male snap fasteners are mounted on ribs adjacent to the lower ribs for adjustment of hat size. 